A Sheik's Spell

by Snoe, Eboni

  ‘ ‘It is so selfish of me to talk this way when you are not happy. In my joy, I simply was not thinking. You know I would do anything for you, Felicia, if I could help change things. I truly believe you would make a better wife for Na’im than Waheedah.’ ’

  Felicia smiled warmly at her friend, as she walked over to hug her. “You’re a very special person, Fatimah. You

  deserve nothing but the best of everything, and that is what I wish for you.”

  She turned to walk away, then stopped mid step. ‘ ‘Wait, there is something you can do for me. You can help me design a costume for the Awya. Two can play this game. I’m going to challenge Waheedah tomorrow night during the festival.”

  “You are? There has not been a female challenger to Awya that I have known of in many, many years.” “Well, you’ll just help me make history, honey. So close your mouth and start telling me exactly what’s going to happen. And we’ll take it from there.”

  Fatimah sat on Felicia’s bed while she bathed, describing the two Awya ’s she’d actually seen with her own eyes, and a third described to her by her mother.

  An Awya was quite a ritualistic affair, embracing many beliefs from the ancient ones. She rubbed the goose pimples that had appeared on her arms as she told Felicia about the ceremonies.

  A servant, who was sent by Sheik Rahman to summon her, interrupted Fatimah’s story. The goose pimples began to resurface as she approached the door to the sheik’s study.

  She entered the medium-sized room and bowed at the waist to the sheik, who was reclining on a burnt orange divan. George was seated in an armchair facing the sheik.

  “As-Salam-Alaikoum,” Sheik Rahman greeted her, motioning for her to sit on a cushioned stool near his feet.

  ‘ ‘Alaikoum-Salam.' ’

  Fatimah’s voice was so soft, she couldn’t believe only moments ago she had been animatedly describing Awya ceremonies to Felicia.

  ‘ ‘I hear from this young man of your desire to marry?’ ’ “TMs is true, Rahman.”

  ‘ ‘Fatimah, I realize I have not expressed it well over the past years, but I am very concerned about your happiness. I have tried to raise you in the manner I would raise a daughter of my own. Therefore, I was always of the impression that you would marry an Egyptian. As a matter of fact, your father had already arranged that you should marry Ilyas. That is one of the reasons he was given the position of overseer here on the estate. It was not that he is such an outstanding worker, but I wanted to make sure you were well provided for.”

  “I am grateful to you for such favor, Rahman.” “That is why I do not understand this sudden change of mind to marry a foreigner. Forgive me, Mr. Mercer, but I must be frank.”

  “It is very simple, Rahman. I love George. I do not love Ilyas.”

  “But love is not everything, my child. You are accustomed to an Egyptian way of life. I do feel you are not prepared for a life other than that as a mother and wife of one of your own kind.”

  “This may have been so until recently, Rahman. In your absence, my life has changed much. I have organized and opened a school for the workers’ children. I have found self-respect that flows from more than the knowledge that I am a woman who should be glad that a man would have her. You yourself, Rahman, have said many times that Karib must progress. Karib is its people. I am Karib, Rahman, and I have grown. This man has been good to me, and I know in my heart he will continue to be, if given the chance.”

  Hearing the sheik’s opposition to their proposed marriage, George could not let Fatimah fight the battle alone. ‘ ‘I want nothing but the best for Fatimah. If you think

  it is best that she stay here in Karib and live, I will make my life here as well.”

  ‘ ‘A wife’s place is with her husband. It should be the place of his choosing, not her’s, or her parents or guardian. I will give you my decision after the Awya. Now if you will leave me, I will think about all of this.”

  Once they arrived at the front doors, Fatimah impulsively pecked George on the lips. Pushing the door open, he smiled his goodbye, almost stumbling over the luggage stacked before him. George caught himself just before he fell into none other than Ilyas* who was standing with another bag in his hands. The two men locked eyes. Ilyas looked up at Fatimah, but he would not move. He continued to block George’s way.

  “Ilyas,” a syrupy female voice called, then instructed him to tell his men there were more bags to be carried. Grudgingly, he placed the bag he was holding on the ground and went back to direct his workers.

  Felicia had watched from the window as the four white Mercedes Benz’ drove into the yard of the estate. There was no doubt in her mind who they carried. As if on cue, the front door on the driver’ s side of each car opened at the same time. Out of each stepped statuesque Nubian men dressed in identical white pant suits.

  One after another, they opened the passenger doors of their vehicles for the entourage until the front yard of the estate was a collage of beautiful fabrics blowing in the wind, each one appearing more fabulous than the other. But, of course, Waheedah’s was the most exotic of them all.

  Flowing green and gold material hung from the bottom of her turban-like headpiece, the exact length as her dress, which was an olive green with gold motif.

  The entourage consisted of ten people, excluding the drivers. Two women busied themselves unnecessarily, making sure Waheedah’s every whim was executed in the style and manner to which she had become accustomed.

  There were Waheedah’s parents-her father was quite rotund and short, while her mother was as thin as a reed- and a man and woman who were obviously their attendants. Three young men, who were dressed in some of the most colorful galabias Felicia had ever seen, were the last to emerge.

  Ilyas and two of the workers had expected the cars, and proceeded to unload the luggage as soon as they arrived. They received no assistance from the chauffeurs of the three vehicles, who stood staunchly, staring in the opposite direction of the cars.

  Felicia had no idea how long Waheedah and her family planned to stay in Karib, but she gathered from the amount of luggage they brought, it had to be for an extended period of time. She watched as the pile of luggage grew in front of the wooden double doors.

  Waheedah waved her arms vehemently, pointing to the luggage that blocked their passage into the house. One of the workers scurried to remove the obstruction, allowing the procession entry.

  Felicia stepped back from the curtained window. She knew neither Waheedah nor her family thought Na’im would reject the marriage. Logically, she agreed with them, but deep in her heart she hoped they were wrong. She had not seen Na’im at all today. Her day had begun so late, he was probably taking care of whatever duties needed his attention.

  Anyone in their right mind would have had second thoughts about challenging the Faruuks. They were a powerful force in Cairo, and therefore in Egypt. Felicia was no exception. Seeing them in all their splendor made her know what she would be up against the following night. But it didn’t change her mind.

  Sheik Rahman and Yasmin received the Faruuks in a south side room, whose cream-colored walls were a continuous succession of open arches divided by sky blue columns.

  The floor was covered with a rich gold, bronze and black Turkish rug. The furniture consisted of several armchairs patterned in white, gold and blue, along with a solid white couch. All of the furniture was trimmed in gold. The room lent a feeling of being inside, yet outside at the same time.

  The greeting between the Rahmans and the Faruuks was very formal. The sheik, beseeching them to treat his home as their own, offered them the customary drink of mint tea. Had their meeting been on more amiable terms, as the preparation for Na’im and Waheedah’s marriage ceremony, the atmosphere would have been much less restrained. An Awya was another situation altogether.

  Jamal (Jah-mahl) Faruuk inquired if the sheik had already started preparations for the ceremony.

  “The entire household and sheikdom have been made
aware. Food and the necessary ritualistic objects are being brought into readiness.”

  It didn’t matter that Waheedah had initiated the festivity. According to the ancient custom, the male's family was responsible for providing these things. None of this would be necessary if he had already claimed his bride-to-be.

  “I understand that in addition to the shame this Awya

  has already brought us,” Faruuk continued, “your son is keeping a woman of foreign descent under your roof.” Taken by surprise, the sheik denied the accusation. ‘ ‘I am not aware of this if it is so.”

  Waheedah smiled inwardly at the sheik’s apparent discomfort. It also pleased her to know that Na’im had not gone so far as to tell his parents about his American distraction.

  ‘ ‘Are you saying you are not aware of what goes on in your own home? Perhaps we are making a mistake in trying to bring about a union between my daughter and your son.”

  “Mister Faruuk,” Yasmin interjected, “we can assure you we are knowledgeable about the activities in our household. For many years now, the west wing has been considered Na’im’s own domain. We do not enter it without his permission, nor do we interfere with what he chooses to do there. Should it not be with a man who will soon be making decisions for an entire sheikdom? Should he not make decisions about his own home?”

  Yasmin’s mind flashed back to the night when she had seen Felicia leave the west wing and head toward the lab. She had not mentioned to her husband that the young woman was residing there, nor had she questioned Na’im about it.

  “I demand that she be removed,” Waheedah pouted. “It is inappropriate, and I am sure room can be found for her in another part of your home, which is so expansive.” “Let me assure you, my wife and I want to do everything we can to make you comfortable as guests in our home, but as my wife just mentioned, we have no jurisdiction over the west wing.”

  “Then Na’im must be asked to remove her.”

  The sheik, who was tiring of this charade, put out both his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

  ‘ ‘But surely you know, Faruuk, that Na’im is in a day’s solitude, as it has always been during the hours before Awya.”

  Faruuk mumbled, “This is true,” glancing at a disgruntled Waheedah.

  “I understand the research project will be over by the end of the week,” Yasmin added in consolation, “so whatever discomfort your family might feel now will be short-lived. Are you otherwise pleased with your living quarters?”

  “We have not seen them. But one of my servants informed me that my bedroom is much smaller than I am accustomed to. I hope I will not become claustrophobic.”

  This time even Waheedah’s parents looked a little embarrassed over her attitude.

  “We hope that will not happen.” The sheik’s nerves were frayed to the end. He was not feeling well at all after this exchange, and was glad when the Faruuks decided to take their meals in their rooms and rest for the remainder of the evening.

  No sooner had the Faruuks departed than a visually- distraught Fatimah appeared under the entrance arch. Her hands were clenching and unclenching the sides of the skirt to her pagnes.

  “There is something dreadfully wrong with Kareem, Rahman. He’s highly excitable and he says he will not eat a thing until you come to him. I know he is nothing more than a worker’s child, but he has already had such a bad time. Aisha says his body cannot stand any more strain. Do you think you can find the time to see him for a few moments?”

  "Nonsense. You know Kareem is more than a worker’s child. He is like a member of the family. Tell him I will be in to see him directly.’ ’

  A sigh of relief escaped Fatimah’s lips as she turned back into the hallway.

  “Fatimah,” the sheik’s voice halted her in mid step, “who is this Aisha?”

  “Felicia told us about her. She is a very wise woman. Very powerful. I do believe had it not been for her, Kareem would not be alive today.”

  “Very well, I am on my way.”

  ‘ ‘I will come with you, my husband.’ ’

  A wide-eyed Kareem with flushed cheeks greeted Sheik Rahman and Yasmin. Aisha, whose chair had been moved further into a corner of the room, nodded her head respectfully as they entered.

  “You are Aisha.” It was more a statement from the sheik than a question.

  “I am.”

  ‘ ‘We are grateful for what you have done for Kareem.’ ’ ‘ ‘It was Kareem who decided to stay here with us. His will is very much one with ‘The One’.

  Yasmin’s eyes lit up with understanding as she listened to Aisha speak.

  “So you are also a believer in ‘The One’, my child?” Aisha asked, looking at Yasmin.

  “For as long as I can remember, I have been.”

  “My mother is a believer in ‘The One’.” Kareem’s large eyes looked down at his hands folded in front of him.

  “She was,” Yasmin echoed, “but how do you know that Kareem?”

  “She tell me so. And she tell me other things too.” The sheik and Yasmin looked from the boy to Aisha,

  not knowing what to make of such strange comments from such a young child.

  “Kareem has had a very spiritual experience. I was with him, and he speaks the truth.”

  Kareem felt more confident as he heard Aisha confirm his statement.

  ‘ ‘She tell me I can help Sheik Rahman. I am the only one. She say you very sick and I am one who have what you need. She tell me you do not know this and I must tell you. She say it very important.”

  Sweat broke out on the sheik’s brow as he realized what Kareem was saying. Yasmin stood as still as stone. They had told no one of the sheik’s illness but Na'im. There was no way Kareem could have known.

  Kareem’s unnatural message from his deceased mother also revealed that Kareem was the sheik’s son and Na’im’s brother.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Only once in his lifetime had Na’im heard the repetitious clanging of cymbals signaling the beginning of Awya.

  He was only five years old the first time, and the cymbals that rang out from the village woke him out of his sleep. His mother had come to his room and explained the custom of the continuous cymbals.

  Twelve sets of cymbals were strategically placed throughout the town in households with women of marrying age, but who were not wed. At the appointed hour, one cymbal after another would be struck in succession, symbolizing the protest of all women against men who did not honor a prearranged marriage in a timely manner.

  As a child, he’d thought the festival was one of the most exciting days of his life, with the strange customs and the dancing and singing. The entire village seemed to participate with an air of expectancy. He also remembered his disappointment at being sent to bed before the main event began.

  He’d heard many stories since then about the Awya. The men spoke of it with apprehension, while the women

  considered it a just means to an end-matrimony.

  His mind reflected on Hambir (Hahm-beer), the eldest village councilman, who was chosen to prepare him for solitude. Normally it would have been his father. Sheik Rahman, administering the rights, but because he was the sheik’s son, the duty was passed down the line of authority.

  First he was instructed to dress in a plain black galabia. After that, he was escorted to the village masjid. The Imam led him to the back of the large structure, where they climbed two sets of stairs before approaching a heavy wooden door with a si2«able lock.

  Behind them several villagers carried various objects, including a large trunk decorated with intricate carvings. No women were allowed to accompany the group, because a man who was facing Awya could not behold a female for twenty-four hours prior to the ceremony.

  Na’im could tell the door had not been opened for quite a long time. It took great effort for the Imam and Hambir, who were both elderly, to force it open because of its rusted hinges.

  After the villagers had put down the articles they carrie
d, they left with the Imam, leaving Na’im alone with Hambir.

  Hambir was dressed in a red ceremonial galabia. The ends of his headpiece touched his waistline. It was held snugly on his head by a braided cord of black, gold and red.

  Hambir removed a large key from the folds of the clothing he wore. Kneeling on both knees, he bent forward placing his forehead on the top of the trunk. Then he opened it

  In silence, he removed a tiny tasseled cushion, a burgundy book with gold-trimmed pages, an exotic oil lamp carved with numerous poses of nude women, whose

  base was pure gold, and a package neatly sealed in a square cloth.

  Turning to Na’im after placing the cushion under his knees, Hambir opened the book to a page pre-chosen by a silk bookmark.

  ‘ ‘Kneel directly in front of me, Na’im Raoul Rahman.”

  Na’im did as he was told.

  Hambir began to recite. ‘ ‘This passage is not for the ears of those with peace of mind. If you are the one chosen to hear this passage or any other, reply Awya.”

  “Tonight’s vigil and tomorrow should not be looked upon as punishment, but as an aid to one who has shown not the ability to honor the decision of his sire.’ ’ Hambir waited for Na’im’s reply.

  “Awya.”

  ‘ ‘The black you wear symbolizes the darkness that clouds your mind, inhibiting you from taking Waheedah Faruuk as your wife. As you clean this room with what has been provided for you, you will also wash away the confusion that now blankets your mind.”

  “awya.”

  “Only after you have completed your task will you bathe your body and don the purple ceremonial robe. The purple will help magnify your ability to look inward, so that you can know your true mind.’ ’

  On and on Hambir read, until he replaced the bookmark at the place where he had begun more than thirty minutes earlier. Once he was done, he did not speak again, nor did he look at Na’im. Hambir replaced the book inside the trunk and closed the lid.